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»Ph.D. in Education from Chapman University

The Ph.D. in education program is intended primarily for individuals seeking a career in higher education or in other research-oriented leadership fields. The program focuses on the formulation of new ways to think about issues and solve problems in the field of education. The doctorate in education offers a unique combination of four emphases: Cultural and Curricular Studies, Disability Studies, Leadership Studies and School Psychology.

Our Ph.D in education is characterized by four distinct, yet interwoven, components:

The notion and practice of social justice

Student collaboration supported by student cohorts

Faculty mentorship of students

A rigorous core of philosophy, foundations and methods of the respective emphasis area

+-Ph.D. program encourages students to evaluate and change traditional teaching models

Social justice, leadership and grassroots community organizing are among the main tenets that connect all the courses in Chapman University’s PhD in Education program. The program moves beyond the traditional classroom as it promotes a big-picture approach to education that encourages students to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional ways of teaching and to make changes when necessary.

+-Ph.D. News: Dr. Ahmed Younis shines light on Islam

Dr. Ahmed Younis discusses his research on critical pedagogy as a means of raising critical consciousness as a component of the development of Muslim American identity and its understanding. Critical pedagogy is both a philosophy and a social movement that works to equip young people with everything they need to recognize oppression in the world and deal with it in a constructive way. “If we increase the literacy of the average Muslim in a way that democratizes knowledge and information gathering, we’ll be able to inoculate young people from this movement to misuse Islam to induce their participation or endorsement of violence and radicalization,” Read more from the OC Register

Watch Dr. Ahmed Younis on the O'Reilly Factor discuss "The truth about fighting the Jihad." Dr. Ahmed Younis, JD is currently a Ph.D. in Education candidate and Adjunct Faculty member in various programs within the CES.

Supplemental application to the Chapman University Ph.D. in education program (through online application).

Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts showing evidence of a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

Official Graduate Record Examination results in the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections.

Three letters of recommendation, including two from graduate-level professors who can describe the academic potential of the applicant, and one from someone who can speak to the applicant's professionalism (e.g., a current employer or a current colleague). Letters from relatives will not be considered.

A personal essay (minimum 2250 words) will be used to assess the applicant's writing skills, career commitment, leadership potential, research interests, and professional goals (uploaded through the online application). This essay should indicate the professors with whom the applicant wishes to study and the ways in which the applicant's research interests align with faculty expertise. The essay should be substantive enough for the faculty to determine the depth of the applicant's thinking and commitment to a rigorous program.

A current resume showing relevant education and work experience (uploaded through the online application).

If you would like to attend an Information Session to find out more about the Ph.D. in Education program please register here, you will be sent a free parking permit for the event!

Application deadlines for the Fall 2015 cohort are still being accepted but may close shortly. Please apply ASAP if you are interested in applying for the Fall 2015 cohort. Please click here to apply!

For more information please contact the Laura Burns, Administrative Assistant to the Ph.D. Program, at (714) 628-7263 or by email at laburns@chapman.edu

+-Joint Admission into Ed.S. in School Psychology and Ph.D. in Education

Applicants may apply for regular admission to the Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology and the Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in School Psychology. If interested in this option, applicants must indicate their choice on the supplemental application for the Ed.S. in School Psychology Program. Applicants must complete the regular admission process for the Ed.S. Program, and have their files reviewed by the Director of the Ph.D. in Education Program. If approved by the School Psychology faculty and the Director of the Ph.D. in Education Program, applicants will receive full admission to the Ed.S. Program and conditional acceptance to the Ph.D.in Education. To receive conditional acceptance to the Ph.D. Program, applicants must achieve regular admission to the Ed.S. Program. Applicants will be assigned an Ed.S. and doctoral advisor. After completion of 24 credits, including at least one 700-level doctoral class, students may apply for regular acceptance to the Ph.D. Program by completing a new graduate application (no fee is required). Applicants will be considered for regular acceptance if they have:

No outstanding incompletes.

Achieved a minimum 3.75 grade point average in program course work.

Earned an A- or its equivalent on the First Year Research Paper in the Ed.S.Program.

Applications will be reviewed by the Director of the Ph.D. in Education Program and the School Psychology Program Faculty. If students are approved by both the faculty and the Director, they will receive regular acceptance into the Ph.D. Program. Students who have not met the criteria may complete the Ed.S. Degree, even if they do not achieve regular acceptance into the Ph.D. Program

+-Program Director and Faculty

Dawn Hunter, Ph.D. Program Director and Faculty

Dr. Dawn Hunter Professor and Director of the Ph.D. Program at Chapman University earned her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to her work at Chapman, Dr. Hunter worked for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in Washington, D.C. Dr. Hunter's experience also includes teaching high school students and adults with severe disabilities, designing and coordinating educational, vocational, residential and recreational programs for students with disabilities, and monitoring the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at the federal level.

Dr. Hunter has publications in the areas of inclusive schooling, building collaborative partnerships, positive behavioral support strategies for students with challenging behaviors, changing attitudes toward persons with disabilities, post secondary options for students with disabilities, vocational and leisure skills training, policy development, and systems change.

+-Ph.D. Research Forums

At least once a year the Ph.D. in Education program brings in leading scholars in the academic field for a research forum open to our CES students and faculty to attend. It is a way for our students to interact with experts in the field as well as gain knowledge in moving forward with their research and possibly dissertation topics.

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Attend an Information Session

Find out more about the Ph.D. in Education program as well as other graduate programs offered in the CES.Register herefor an information session and receive a free parking permit. If you do not have time to schedule a tour with the Admissions Office you can use the self-guided tour brochure (PDF) and campus map (PDF) to take a spin around our beautiful campus!

Support Ph.D. Student Scholarships!

TheCES is proud to have the first research-based doctorate at Chapman University andPh.D. Scholarshipshelp attract the best and brightest doctorate candidates to our community. These candidates and their research will bring immeasurable value to Chapman in the years to come. If you are interested in helping with scholarships for our Ph.D. students please visit the Student Scholarships page for more information on how you can donate!